Gillingham v Charlton preview and team news – Head coach Stephen Clemence looks ahead to FA Cup second round match at Priestfield on Saturday

Head coach Stephen Clemence knows his team will have to up their game to pull off a cup shock this Saturday.

His team beat Wimbledon last time out, a 1-0 win at Priestfield in a game where the Gills weren’t at their best, and they face a much sterner test this weekend against an improving League 1 Charlton side in the FA Cup.

More: How Clemence kept the players switched on with the lights off

Clemence said: “If you are going to beat a team from the higher division you have to play at the top of your game and the boys will have to be seven, eight or nine out of 10 to get a result, there is no doubt about it.

“They will be the favourites coming into it, they have good players, so have we, and if we turn up we will give them a good game, that will be the aim.

“It is a fantastic occasion, it’s the FA Cup where you are looking forward to getting through to the next round where you know all the big boys come in.

“There will be many players in the dressing room that want to get through because they might have a chance to go and play at a top Premier League or Championship stadium, that is what you want to do, as you grow up as a child it’s what you want to do.

“I grew up wanting to play at Wembley and Anfield and White Hart Lane, these boys will be no different, this is the opportunity but you do have to beat opponents along the way from a higher division.

“It will be a very tough game but if we can get through it who knows where we can go in the next round?

“Charlton are a top half League 1 team at the moment, on a good run of form themselves since the new manager (Michael Appleton) has gone in, it will be a difficult game but as a player it’s one you should be relishing, taking on an opponent from the higher division.”

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